Asking For A Friend

Jason and Duffey discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month. This episode covers Chapter 3 (pp. 73-98). If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here:  Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined again by Andrew Pressley for a discussion on the history of music throughout the ages. This episode is aimed offering a discussion on the role tradition and the church's music. Is tradition good or bad? Should we be anti-traditional? Should we embrace all traditions? How should we evaulate tradition? 

In this epsiode, the elders of Believers' Baptist Church sit around a table and discuss issues pertaining both to their personal lives and the life of the church. This episode was recorded during their Fall Elder Retreat, in October 2025.

In this epsiode, Duffey and Jason are joined by Dr. Geoff Chang of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Here, they discuss Spurgeon's life and convictions as a pastor. This episode was geared toward being a supplement to our monthly book club epsiodes as we go through Chang's recent book titled Spurgeon the Pastor.    Watch the video edition of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kENrBbUDSpQ    About our guest: Dr. Geoff Chang https://www.wornallroad.org/ca-1-1 

In this unique epsiode Duffey recounts the story of a small band of radicals in seventeenth-century England. This group is known today as the Fifth Monarchy Men. The Fifth Monarchy Men were Puritans (made up of both Independents and Baptists) who promoted a particular eschatological view of the 'fifth kingdom' of Daniel 2:44 and Daniel 7:26-27. This story recounts some of the Fifth Monarchy Men who became radicalized through the hearing of sermons and the reading of published material, and who saw the imminent need to overthrow the existing government in England through a violent force of arms in order to usher in the millennial kingdom of Christ on earth. For further reading and study follow the links below: https://share.google/tUGtJChWkjFjFpahz  https://londonhistorians.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/the-fifth-monarchy-men-and-a-lesser-known-london-uprising/    Another recent podcast episode discussing the Fifth Monarchy Men: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-n5xab-193cc0f 

Jason and Duffey discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month. This episode covers Chapter 2 (pp. 43-72). If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here:  Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined by Pastor Tom Hicks (FBC Clinton, LA) to discuss the Law and Gospel in counseling. The realm of counseling can seem challenging to navigate when viewed in light of the Christian obligation to obey all of God's commands. Within the life of a local church, pastors often find themselves counseling church members or local folks in their neighborhoods and/or towns. There are many issues that pastors (and others) face in the counseling room. But how should the Law of God factor in to these discussions? How should the Gospel inform these conversations? These and other issues are addressed on this podcast.   About our guest: Tom Hicks https://www.fbcclintonla.com/about-leadership.html    Online articles by Tom Hicks https://pastortomhicks.com/  https://founders.org/author-name/tom-hicks/ 

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined again by Andrew Pressley for a discussion on the history of music throughout the ages. This is epsiode Part 2 of a 2-part series and considers the music of the Protestant Reformation up to the Modern era. This episode is aimed offering a wide-angle lens on church music history and seeks to provide awareness of the presence of vast differences of style and tradition. They seek to navigate the difficult conversation of what kind of music is appropriate in church settings? How have Christians thought about this issue in the past? How are we today informed by our current cultural millue regarding the conversation surrounding church music?

This episode continues a mini series in systematic theology. For this episode, Duffey is joined by Patrick Covington to discuss questions like: What is the doctrine of God? Does God exist? What is God? Who is God? What is the trinity? How can God be both one and three?  For further study, see the resources provided below: Video R. C. Sproul https://youtu.be/Bj6mZiRRuUU?feature=shared  https://youtu.be/Sh72wgZEcKk?feature=shared  Articles  Ligonier Ministries https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/reformed-doctrine-god  https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/doctrine-god-recommended-reading   

In this month's special edition episode, Duffey interviews Dr. James Renihan on the biblical defense for believers baptism. Dr. Renihan has spent much of 2025 travelling to various churches in order to deliver this material over the course of several hours in conference format. In this episode, he offers a condesensed form of his larger presentation. --------------------------- James Renihan, PhD President, Professor of Historical Theology at International Reformed Baptist Seminary After a ministry of church planting in central Massachusetts, Dr. James Renihan and his family moved to Escondido, CA in 1998 to begin serving as Dean of the newly formed Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies. He led that work for 20 years, and when it became IRBS Theological Seminary in 2018 was appointed the first president. He has served as a pastor of churches in Massachusetts, New York and California. He is a graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (PhD), Seminary of the East (MDiv), Trinity Ministerial Academy, and Liberty Baptist College (BS). His academic work has focused on the Second London Baptist Confession and the broader Puritan theological context from which it arose.

In this episode, Jason and Duffey discuss the recent flooding in Kerrville, TX which resulted in the loss of many lives (adult and children). How are Christians to rightly think about the destructive nature of natural disasters and the loss of human life? Where is God in times of crisis? Why doesn't God prevent these types of tragic events?

Jason and Duffey discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month. This episode covers Chapter 1 (pp. 11-41). If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here:  Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

In this epsiode, Duffey is joined by Andrew Pressley for a discussion on the history of music throughout the ages. This is epsiode Part 1 and considers the music of the Early Church and into the Middle Ages (the Medieval Church). On this epsiode, they try to address questions and common concerns like: How can God's people today think well about the music of the church? How can we think well about form and style of music in the church? How can we think better about instrumentation and accompaniment in church music today? Should we use instruments in worship services? If so, which ones? Should we sing in unison or with harmonies? Should we sing together (congregationally) or rely upon professionals to do the singing for us? All of these questions, and many more, have been asked since the time of the Apostles and the first century and will continue to be asked as long as the church remains. Tune in for a (hopefully) informative conversation!

This episode begins a new mini-series on the importance of systematic theology. For this episode, Duffey is joined by Patrick Covington to discuss questions like: What is systematic theology? Why should I care about systematic theology? Is systematic theology practical and useful? How can the study of systematic theology serve our spiritual growth in Christ? For further study, see the resources provided below: Video R. C. Sproul https://youtu.be/bIRbcmVC1Q0?feature=shared  Articles Paul Smalley https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/is-systematic-theology-helpful  Scott Swain https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-systematic-theology/?srsltid=AfmBOope473U1xP-WpEbAqlxpTbjfjdf6EgnTFKZBK-QqLpx00MoByMm 

In this episode, Duffey interviews pastor, author, and theologian Chad Bird. Chad has a growing audience in the social media world through his content dealing with issues in biblical studies, biblical Hebrew, the Old Testement, and a Christ-centered view of the whole Bible. His podcast "40 Minutes in the Old Testament" has a growing audience as well. In this episode, we discuss one of his books titled "The Christ Key" where he helps the reader navigate the Old Testament with Christian eyes. You may check out Chad's books here: https://shop.1517.org/collections/chad-bird   About our guest: ***Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He holds master’s degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. Chad has authored several books, speaks regularly at conferences and congregations, and cohosts the popular podcast, “40 Minutes in the Old Testament.” Chad and his wife Stacy make their home in Texas, where they have been blessed with four children and three grandchildren. ---------------------------- ***BBC Disclaimer: Chad is a Lutheran theologian and would differ on some key Baptistic and congregational convictions that are held by Believers' Baptist Church. This podcast is not a wholesale affirmation of Lutheranism.

In this episode, Jason and Duffey discuss the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) and the Nicene Creed. This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the this church council. What do Christians believe about the doctrine of trinity? What do we believe about the person of Christ? The Nicene Creed serves as the classic statement and the orthodox guideline for biblical teaching on the Christian doctrine of God. After listening to the episode, see below for recommended further listening/study. Mark Dever, sermon on the Council of Nicaea https://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/sermon/nicea-true-god-from-god/  Gavin Ortlund, exposition of the Nicene Creed https://youtu.be/2KuLiL0Am78?si=_01aAwRZy9TuSLNm  R.C. Sproul, on the Nicene Creed https://youtu.be/9QmeBPHOXLY?si=2hB-0bndvaNq0KXt  Michael Reeves, relevance of the Nicene Creed for today https://youtu.be/xN0I5RocSdM?si=jJg0ngYBcNg7zjF2 

Jason and Duffey begin to discuss a book on the pastoral life and theology of the nineteenth-century English Baptist pastor, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This mini-series will be an on-going series in "book club" style. They will read a chapter and discuss it on an episode each month. This episode serves as an introduction to the book club, and it covers the book's "Introduction" (pp. 1-10). If you'd like to read along, you may purchase a copy here:  Geoff Chang, Spurgeon The Pastor 

In this epsiode, Jason and Duffey consider a Bible question from the book of Ezra. they discuss questions like: How should we think about the divorces that were called for by Ezra in chapter 10? Were they legitimate? Did God's word demand that these divorces must take place? Or did Ezra go too far? Are there implications from this passage that we can draw from today in our 21st century context?  Several online resources that are recommended for further reading by Jason and Duffey are listed below. https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/problem-of-intermarriage  https://learn.ligonier.org/devotionals/putting-away-the-foreign-wives  https://www.reformation21.org/blogs/casting-off-of-foreign-wives-a.php 

In this episode, Jason and Duffey discuss the weekly service preview that is sent to all of BBC's members each Thursday. The service preview is designed and intended to provide a discipleship resource for equipping the saints in order to make the most out of the upcoming Lord's Day worship service.

In this episode of Local Pastors Talk, Jason leads a discussing on the pastor as counselor. For this discussion, he is joined by three other local pastors from the Emory, TX area. Together they cover questions like: Are pastors obligated to provide counsel to others? What can pastoral counseling look like in the life a church? Are there difficulties and/or dangers in pastoral counselling? Should pastors have connections outside the church for referrals in more extreme cases? Should pastors cooperate with other local pastors in a given community toward the end of assisting one another in the task of counseling? Episode guests: Pastor Robert Burns (Miracle Faith Baptist Church, Emory, TX) Pastor David Banks (Emory Methodist Church, Emory, TX) Pastor Richard Kellam (Point Church of Christ, Point, TX)